Fluorescent lighting fixture



Dec., M, 3945 s. R. NAYsMl-m 2,390,567

FLUORESCENT LIGHTING FIXTURE Filed June 4, 194s 2 sheets-sheet 1 INVENTOR. SHIRLEY R. NA VSM/TH T TUF/VE y Dec. M, 45 s. R. NAYSMWH 2390:@7

FLUORESCENT LIGHTING FIXTURE Filed June 4, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.v SH/RLEY l?. N4 VSM/TH WMe/WMM en the broken une Patented Dec. 11, 1945 I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,390,807 FLUORESCENT LIGHTING FIXTURE Shirley R. Naysmith, Meriden, Conn., assignor to The Miller Company, Meriden, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application June 4, 1943, Serial No. 489,603 3 Claims. Cl. 240-78) ,their electrical and magnetic properties, are reduced to a minimum, for example, the only metal parts required being the supporting screws, bolts, straps and the like, and a small splicing chamber cover plate.

According to the present invention a nonmetallic body, which may be a shallow inverted channel, is employed to support all parts of the fixture. The length of this channel is determined by the length necessary for the ballast and starter sockets as these parts require much less length than the lamps and reflector for the lixture. The lamps and reiiector extend substantially beyond the supporting body member,

According to the present invention the input wires are led into a splicing chamber above an end of the body member, where the starter sockets are housed. Wires extend from the splicing chamber to-the lower face of the body member through holes and are then connected to the ballast, also supported by the body member, and to the lamps as necessary for lamp operation.

Other and further objects will hereinafter appear as the description proceeds.

The accompanying drawings show, for purposes of illustrating the present invention, an embodiment in which the invention may take form, it being understood that the drawings are illustrative of the invention rather than limiting the same.

In these drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan ing fiixture with parts broken away terior construction; l

Figure 2 is a fragmentary top plan view at an enlarged scale with parts broken away;

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken 3-3 of Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 4-4 oi Figures 2 and 3.

The body member of the lighting xture is illustrated at I0, the s'ame being in the form of View of a complete lightto show ina straight, shallow, inverted, trough shaped piece of insulating, non-metallic material. Straps II, II are secured across the upper flat face of the body member at its ends by bolts I2, I2 and these straps have ears I3, I3 struck up for attachment to chains or other supports as indicated.

A current supply lead I4 is secured to thetop of the strap Il by a small strap I5 held in place by screws I6. Adjacent one of the end straps II three starter sockets I1 aremounted for three starters I8.. A cover plate I9 is secured about the starter sockets by hooks 20, one shown at the left end of Figure 4, and by screws indicated at 2l. The ballast ,22 is secured to tre top of the channel siaped body member by bolts indicated at 23. The current supply wires are connected to the starter sockets, to the ballast and to cord terminals 2li in the usual circuit relations for the number of lamps and type of ballast employed. These connections are made by passing wires from the splicing chamber down through holes, such as illustrated at 25, 25 in the body member, and the cord terminals 24 are clamped in place by straps 26 held in place by the bolts I2. It will thus be seen that the body member I0 supports not only the input wires, but all the electrical parts of the apparatus and carries the cord terminals 24 for connection with the fluorescent lamps,

This body member can be made to have a short overall length which should (for purposes of balance) be a little more than the length of thel ballast and twice the length required for housing the starter sockets. The starter sockets are all preferably located at one end so as to be in one splicing chamber and are preferably placed on vertical axes, as this disposition makes it easier to locate the starter which is not properly functioning, should failure take place.

The straps il carry centrally disposed, downwardly extending, threaded studs 30. These studs are utilized for supporting the reflector illustrated at 3l. This reiieetor is also made of nonmetallic, rigid material. The support for the reflector includes a thumb nut 32, non-removably carried by a strap 33, this strap member having a portion below the reflector and a portion 3d above the reflector so as to hold the strap and reflector together. The refiectoi` can be held securely in place and can be removed without likelihood of separation of the parts or of develo'ping too much strain when the parts are secured together. The reflector 3| carries lamp holders 35 in the form of two pieces 36 and 3l of wire hinged as illustrated at 38 and adapted to be hooked together as indicated at 39.

The reiiector 3l is provided with holes d0 near its ends and these holes are utilized to pass the cord terminals 2t down through the reflector after it has been hung in position. These ter minals are adapted to .be fastened to the usual pin .type terminals found on uorescent lamps d2 by receptacles indicated at d I.

.All the wiring for the fi'ture may be completed at the factory and the electrical parts oi' the fixture completely installed. Then the assembly of the reflectors and lamps on the body of the iixture is very easily accomplished and lamp renewals may be readily made when necessary.

Since it is obvious that the invention may be embodied in other forms and constructions Withs in the scope of the claims, I Wish it to be understood that the particular form shown is but one of these forms, and various modiications and changes being possible, I do not otherwise limit myself in any Way with respect thereto.

What is claimed is:

l. In a multiple lamp uorescent lighting tixture, a rigid horizontal dat topped body substantially shorter than the lamps with which it is to be used, a multiple lamp iiuorescent lamp ballast secured on the upper side oi the body midway of its ends, starter sockets secured to the top of the body near one end, a current supply cord secured to the top of the body adjacent ,the starter sockets, and wiring interconnecting the current supply cord with the starter sockets and the ballast and including a plurality of lamp leads having pin receptacle contacts for supplying a plurality of fluorescent lamps, a cover detachably secured to the body and forming a splicing chamber about the starter sockets, the body' having wire receiving holes under the ballast and adjacent the starter sockets so that all the wiring except the cord and that in the splicing chamber is below the body, and means for securing the lamp leads under the body.

2. In a multiple lamp uorescent lighting ilxs ture, a rigid horizontal dat topped body substantially shorter than the lamps with which it is to beused, cross straps secured to the top of the ballast and including a plurality of lamp leads extending beyond the ends of the body and having pin receptacle contacts for supplying a p1urality of uorescent lamps, a cover forming a splicing chamber about the starter sockets and secured to the adjacent stra the body having wire receiving holes under the ballast and adjacent the starter sockets so that all thewiring except the cord and that in the splicing chamber is below the body, and straps secured under the ends of the body and supporting the lamp leads.

3. A. lighting fixture comprising a rigid non- :metallic body having a fiat top and narrow depending side flanges, a multiple lamp iiuorescent lamp ballast secured to the top face of the body, starter sockets carried by the top of the body and adapted to carry uorescent lamp starters, body supports secured to the ends of the body, a cover about the starter sockets apertured for the starters and adapted to form a splicing chamber, current supply leads extending into the splicing chamber, cord terminals adapted iorconnection with the posts at .the ends of a plurality of lamps, wiring interconnecting the supply leads, the sockets, the ballast and the cord terminals, the wiring to the ballast and cord terminals passing through holes in the body so as to be underneath the body, downwardly extending `studs carried at the ends ofthe body, a downwardly acting non-metallic reilector detachably secured to the studs and held against the anges of the body, and lamp supporting rings carried by the reilector, the reector having holes for the cord terminals.

SHIRLEY R. NAYSMITH. 

